Kirjahaku

They thought they knew who the enemy was...When the Vatican extends an official invitation to Artemus and his allies to visit Rome, Artemus is wary of their intentions. Especially since the demon inside Drake has turned out to be one of Hell's strongest princes, while Otis's newly awakened powers means he is their most powerful tool against Hell's army. Heading for Rome despite his misgivings, their arrival precipitates a series of attacks that soon has them questioning everyone around them.Daniel Lenton is a shadow. Afflicted by a disease that weakened him as a child, the priest has dedicated his life to the church and wants nothing to do with Artemus and his friends. Not when such an association would risk exposing the lie he wants to keep buried. But when an ambush rouses Daniel's beast to defend him against a monster, he is left with little choice but to embrace who he was born to be.After the precious cargo they are hired to protect is attacked by demons, Serena and Nate are convinced that Ba'al is after something hidden among the artifacts bound for an exhibition in Rome. The last thing the super soldiers expect when they arrive in the city is to come face to face with their past.As a new and formidable foe grows closer, Artemus and his allies must decipher the mysteries that await them in Rome, help a guardian find his key, and uncover the location of the next gate to Hell, all before Ba'al destroys the Holy See.

They thought they knew who the enemy was...When the Vatican extends an official invitation to Artemus and his allies to visit Rome, Artemus is wary of their intentions. Especially since the demon inside Drake has turned out to be one of Hell's strongest princes, while Otis's newly awakened powers means he is their most powerful tool against Hell's army. Heading for Rome despite his misgivings, their arrival precipitates a series of attacks that soon has them questioning everyone around them.Daniel Lenton is a shadow. Afflicted by a disease that weakened him as a child, the priest has dedicated his life to the church and wants nothing to do with Artemus and his friends. Not when such an association would risk exposing the lie he wants to keep buried. But when an ambush rouses Daniel's beast to defend him against a monster, he is left with little choice but to embrace who he was born to be.After the precious cargo they are hired to protect is attacked by demons, Serena and Nate are convinced that Ba'al is after something hidden among the artifacts bound for an exhibition in Rome. The last thing the super soldiers expect when they arrive in the city is to come face to face with their past.As a new and formidable foe grows closer, Artemus and his allies must decipher the mysteries that await them in Rome, help a guardian find his key, and uncover the location of the next gate to Hell, all before Ba'al destroys the Holy See.

Once upon a time in Chicago...There are only two things Artemus Steele and his friends want after their latest battle with Ba'al in Rome. Some R&R and zero encounters with demonic entities trying to kill them. Unfortunately for the angel and his allies, Ba'al is headed to Chicago in search of the slumbering Guardian they know to be there. Detective Jeremiah Chase does not believe in monsters. But when his partner is attacked by one, he can no longer deny the evidence of his own eyes, nor the suspicions he has always harboured about Artemus Steele and the incident he once investigated at Elton LeBlanc's auction house.Leah Chase knows that lying to her father about her secret meetings with her estranged grandmother will come and bite her in the ass some day. When she receives a mysterious pendant from her grandmother, Leah wonders whether her father had done the right thing keeping her from seeing her mother's family after all. Because strange things are starting to happen around her. And she can feel the presence of an otherworldly being growing within her soul.When Haruki Kuroda saves Leah from a newborn demon, his actions trigger her awakening and set off a chain of events that no one could ever have imagined. With Ba'al intent on laying a trap to lure out the new Guardian and use her to open another gate of Hell, Artemus and the others must hunt down the divine beast who continues to elude them. The question is, who will find her first?

Once upon a time in Chicago...There are only two things Artemus Steele and his friends want after their latest battle with Ba'al in Rome. Some R&R and zero encounters with demonic entities trying to kill them. Unfortunately for the angel and his allies, Ba'al is headed to Chicago in search of the slumbering Guardian they know to be there. Detective Jeremiah Chase does not believe in monsters. But when his partner is attacked by one, he can no longer deny the evidence of his own eyes, nor the suspicions he has always harboured about Artemus Steele and the incident he once investigated at Elton LeBlanc's auction house.Leah Chase knows that lying to her father about her secret meetings with her estranged grandmother will come and bite her in the ass some day. When she receives a mysterious pendant from her grandmother, Leah wonders whether her father had done the right thing keeping her from seeing her mother's family after all. Because strange things are starting to happen around her. And she can feel the presence of an otherworldly being growing within her soul.When Haruki Kuroda saves Leah from a newborn demon, his actions trigger her awakening and set off a chain of events that no one could ever have imagined. With Ba'al intent on laying a trap to lure out the new Guardian and use her to open another gate of Hell, Artemus and the others must hunt down the divine beast who continues to elude them. The question is, who will find her first?

The Beginning of the End has never been so bittersweet... In the wake of their latest battle against Ba'al, one thing has become clear to Artemus Steele and his companions. The demonic organization is intent on dragging Drake Hunter to Hell, come what may. While Karl LeBlanc's warning continues to preoccupy Artemus and the other Guardians, strange earthquakes rock the four continents, the origins of which turn out to be more sinister than anyone could have anticipated. After an unexpected attack brings them face to face with an enemy they cannot defeat, they realize they could very well lose the war against Ba'al. But when a fallen archangel turns up on their doorstep with a new Guardian in tow, all bets are off. Having walked the Earth for thousands of years to atone for his sins, Solomon Weiss becomes the custodian of Jacob Schroeder, a young boy he discovers in the desert. Conscious that Jacob is host to a powerful divine beast, the former archangel brings the child to Chicago to meet his kin and to seek Artemus and the Guardians' help in stopping the opening of Jacob's gate. As Ba'al renews its attacks on Artemus and his companions, the suspicion Solomon has always harbored about his connection with Jacob is borne out, while the true nature of what links Artemus, Drake, and Smokey finally becomes shockingly clear. Will Hell claim Drake as it has always intended? Or can Solomon and Jacob tip the scales and help Artemus and the Guardians save the dark angel from his grim fate?

The Beginning of the End has never been so bittersweet... In the wake of their latest battle against Ba'al, one thing has become clear to Artemus Steele and his companions. The demonic organization is intent on dragging Drake Hunter to Hell, come what may. While Karl LeBlanc's warning continues to preoccupy Artemus and the other Guardians, strange earthquakes rock the four continents, the origins of which turn out to be more sinister than anyone could have anticipated. After an unexpected attack brings them face to face with an enemy they cannot defeat, they realize they could very well lose the war against Ba'al. But when a fallen archangel turns up on their doorstep with a new Guardian in tow, all bets are off. Having walked the Earth for thousands of years to atone for his sins, Solomon Weiss becomes the custodian of Jacob Schroeder, a young boy he discovers in the desert. Conscious that Jacob is host to a powerful divine beast, the former archangel brings the child to Chicago to meet his kin and to seek Artemus and the Guardians' help in stopping the opening of Jacob's gate. As Ba'al renews its attacks on Artemus and his companions, the suspicion Solomon has always harbored about his connection with Jacob is borne out, while the true nature of what links Artemus, Drake, and Smokey finally becomes shockingly clear. Will Hell claim Drake as it has always intended? Or can Solomon and Jacob tip the scales and help Artemus and the Guardians save the dark angel from his grim fate?

The Final Battle will soon be upon them...Back in Chicago, a broken and battered Artemus and Smokey sink into despair, the loss of the man they were born to protect a burden they cannot bear, much to the frustration of the Guardians and super soldiers who remain at their side. When a group of unexpected visitors turn up at the mansion, Artemus is forced to face the ramifications of their failure in Rome and finally finds his resolve to enact the desperate plan he's put together to save his brother. But after the world's most powerful governments decide Artemus and Smokey are too valuable an asset to risk losing to Hell, their former associates turn against them and try to capture the angel and the hellhound as a safeguard. Trapped in the Underworld, Drake Hunter must survive in a realm that no living human has ever set foot in before. Much to his surprise, he is rescued from the clutches of Ba'al's leader by a demon who was once his enemy and soon finds himself in the company of the most unlikely group of allies he's ever worked with. As Artemus and Drake gather their troops on Earth and in Hell, Satanael and Hell's Council finally make their move to capture the two brothers and bring about the Apocalypse they have long wished for.With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, can Artemus and Drake defy the destiny Hell wishes to impose upon them? Or will they achieve the impossible and win the fight of their lives?

The Final Battle will soon be upon them...Back in Chicago, a broken and battered Artemus and Smokey sink into despair, the loss of the man they were born to protect a burden they cannot bear, much to the frustration of the Guardians and super soldiers who remain at their side. When a group of unexpected visitors turn up at the mansion, Artemus is forced to face the ramifications of their failure in Rome and finally finds his resolve to enact the desperate plan he's put together to save his brother. But after the world's most powerful governments decide Artemus and Smokey are too valuable an asset to risk losing to Hell, their former associates turn against them and try to capture the angel and the hellhound as a safeguard. Trapped in the Underworld, Drake Hunter must survive in a realm that no living human has ever set foot in before. Much to his surprise, he is rescued from the clutches of Ba'al's leader by a demon who was once his enemy and soon finds himself in the company of the most unlikely group of allies he's ever worked with. As Artemus and Drake gather their troops on Earth and in Hell, Satanael and Hell's Council finally make their move to capture the two brothers and bring about the Apocalypse they have long wished for.With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, can Artemus and Drake defy the destiny Hell wishes to impose upon them? Or will they achieve the impossible and win the fight of their lives?

Hana Mae Jin does not believe in magic. Unfortunately, magic believes in her. When the hospital where Mae Jin works is attacked by terrifying monsters, a power the mortuary assistant never knew she possessed awakens, sending a wave of magic across New York that has unforeseen repercussions. Nikolai Stanisic has only one wish. To stop his brother Oscar and their father the Sorcerer King from carrying out the dreadful scheme that was put into motion the night they killed his mother. His only chance at success lies in rousing the soul of the being his father fears the most: the rightful Witch Queen, fated to save the world of magic and rule over it. Thrust into a fantastical realm hidden from mortal eyes, Mae soon learns of her mythical past and the incredible destiny that awaits her. Armed with the weapon and the familiar who were once promised to her, she joins forces with Nikolai and Vlad Vissarion, a seductive Russian mobster who wants to stop a demon-infested gang from taking over the city's criminal underworld. With the New York coven and a pair of mysterious magic users from Chicago at their side, Mae, Nikolai, and Vlad find themselves facing an enemy far more vicious than they could ever have imagined and uncover a terrifying plot set in motion by the Sorcerer King and his Dark Council.

It's all fun and games until someone pisses off a Witch Queen... Weeks following the events that led to her awakening and her initiation into the New York coven as the Witch Queen prophesized to rule the world of magic, Mae Jin is still trying to get a semblance of her life back together. But disaster strikes when her apartment gets attacked by ghouls, driving her into the thick of the action as she helps Nikolai Stanisic figure out the origins and purpose of a mysterious skeleton key that falls into his hands by accident. A key the Dark Council was guarding. Forced to travel to Philadelphia for the Annual Grand Meeting of all covens, Mae finds herself treading a fine line amidst the cutthroat politics of the covenstead and the senior witches and sorcerers who wish to put a leash on her. When they discover that local magic users have gone missing, Mae, Nikolai, Vlad, and the others stumble upon a link between the disappearances and the skeleton key. After Nikolai's brother Oscar and the demon Barquiel steal a sacred grimoire from the covenstead, Mae realizes all the incidents are connected and that there is a traitor amongst them. With help from some unlikely allies, Mae and her friends rush headlong into a race to uncover the secret behind the skeleton key and the book of spells. Will they figure out the Dark Council's wicked scheme before all is lost? Nerves will be frayed. Steak will get eaten. Snark will be committed.

It's all fun and games until someone pisses off a Witch Queen... Weeks following the events that led to her awakening and her initiation into the New York coven as the Witch Queen prophesized to rule the world of magic, Mae Jin is still trying to get a semblance of her life back together. But disaster strikes when her apartment gets attacked by ghouls, driving her into the thick of the action as she helps Nikolai Stanisic figure out the origins and purpose of a mysterious skeleton key that falls into his hands by accident. A key the Dark Council was guarding. Forced to travel to Philadelphia for the Annual Grand Meeting of all covens, Mae finds herself treading a fine line amidst the cutthroat politics of the covenstead and the senior witches and sorcerers who wish to put a leash on her. When they discover that local magic users have gone missing, Mae, Nikolai, Vlad, and the others stumble upon a link between the disappearances and the skeleton key. After Nikolai's brother Oscar and the demon Barquiel steal a sacred grimoire from the covenstead, Mae realizes all the incidents are connected and that there is a traitor amongst them. With help from some unlikely allies, Mae and her friends rush headlong into a race to uncover the secret behind the skeleton key and the book of spells. Will they figure out the Dark Council's wicked scheme before all is lost? Nerves will be frayed. Steak will get eaten. Snark will be committed.

Something dark is brewing in Europe... Weeks after the events in Philadelphia that saw them come face to face with the Sorcerer King, Mae Jin resumes her job as a mortuary assistant at Grandview General and Nikolai Stanisic goes to Prague to train with the Council of the Moon. When Mae stumbles upon something strange during an autopsy and more dead bodies with similar findings turn up, she soon realizes their enemy is up to no good again. Meanwhile, Vlad Vissarion is approached by an infamous Colombian cartel demanding an introduction to Budimir Volkov, one of his Bratva's most senior generals. A man he knows harbors ill feelings toward him by virtue of their shared past. When Budimir's grandson Roman is ambushed and kidnapped by Oscar Beneventi, a chain of events ensues that results in Nikolai and his familiar Alastair absorbing a dangerous new power into their bodies. New and deadly allies come to the fore as everyone converges on Prague to stop the Dark Council's next scheme. Will Mae, Nikolai, and Vlad be able to save Roman from Oscar and Barquiel's clutches and uncover their nefarious intentions? Or will the Sorcerer King succeed in moving one step closer to his goals?

Something dark is brewing in Europe... Weeks after the events in Philadelphia that saw them come face to face with the Sorcerer King, Mae Jin resumes her job as a mortuary assistant at Grandview General and Nikolai Stanisic goes to Prague to train with the Council of the Moon. When Mae stumbles upon something strange during an autopsy and more dead bodies with similar findings turn up, she soon realizes their enemy is up to no good again. Meanwhile, Vlad Vissarion is approached by an infamous Colombian cartel demanding an introduction to Budimir Volkov, one of his Bratva's most senior generals. A man he knows harbors ill feelings toward him by virtue of their shared past. When Budimir's grandson Roman is ambushed and kidnapped by Oscar Beneventi, a chain of events ensues that results in Nikolai and his familiar Alastair absorbing a dangerous new power into their bodies. New and deadly allies come to the fore as everyone converges on Prague to stop the Dark Council's next scheme. Will Mae, Nikolai, and Vlad be able to save Roman from Oscar and Barquiel's clutches and uncover their nefarious intentions? Or will the Sorcerer King succeed in moving one step closer to his goals?

How do you defeat an enemy you cannot see?After returning from Prague, a strange attack by hellbeasts leaves Mae Jin and her allies puzzled. Their suspicion that the Dark Council is behind the incident is roused when a reception attended by Mae, Nikolai Stanisic, and Vlad Vissarion takes a dark turn.But it isn't until Mae unwittingly triggers an unknown spell in a haunted church that she realizes the full extent of their foe's plans. Overnight, the memories of almost everyone she knows are wiped out by the enemy's sorcery and the magical realm turns against her, making her the country's most wanted fugitive.With the assistance of an unexpected ally, Mae, Nikolai, Vlad, and those of her friends immune to the trickery track down those who possess knowledge of the rare magic she unleashed.With only two days left to foil the Dark Council's sinister scheme, will Mae and Nikolai be able to reverse the spell before it's too late?

How do you defeat an enemy you cannot see?After returning from Prague, a strange attack by hellbeasts leaves Mae Jin and her allies puzzled. Their suspicion that the Dark Council is behind the incident is roused when a reception attended by Mae, Nikolai Stanisic, and Vlad Vissarion takes a dark turn.But it isn't until Mae unwittingly triggers an unknown spell in a haunted church that she realizes the full extent of their foe's plans. Overnight, the memories of almost everyone she knows are wiped out by the enemy's sorcery and the magical realm turns against her, making her the country's most wanted fugitive.With the assistance of an unexpected ally, Mae, Nikolai, Vlad, and those of her friends immune to the trickery track down those who possess knowledge of the rare magic she unleashed.With only two days left to foil the Dark Council's sinister scheme, will Mae and Nikolai be able to reverse the spell before it's too late?

All Hail the Witch Queen...In the wake of their tumultuous clash with the Sorcerer King and the Dark Council in Europe, Mae Jin and Nikolai Stanisic return to New York, only to find the city besieged by a string of grisly murders. With their adversary escalating the conflict, the stage is set for a final, cataclysmic showdown on their own turf.For Oscar Beneventi, awakening from a lifetime ensnared in a nightmarish spell means facing the extremes of his father's diabolical ambitions. Conscious that Vedran will bring darkness to the world if he succeeds in finding the Book of Shadows and the soul it contains, Oscar resolves to thwart his father's machinations and aid Mae and Nikolai in their quest to defeat him.With the Soul Reaper Queen missing, Mae persuades her most powerful allies to accompany her on a daring expedition to Hell, seeking to repair Hellreaver and unlock their true potential. Their descent into the underworld is fraught with danger and reveals long-hidden truths, forever altering Mae's perception of her world.As alliances are forged and battle lines drawn both on Earth and in the depths of Hell, Mae and her companions brace themselves for an apocalyptic clash against the Sorcerer King's unholy forces. With time running out, can they execute their audacious plan and prevent the dawn of a new era of darkness?

All Hail the Witch Queen...In the wake of their tumultuous clash with the Sorcerer King and the Dark Council in Europe, Mae Jin and Nikolai Stanisic return to New York, only to find the city besieged by a string of grisly murders. With their adversary escalating the conflict, the stage is set for a final, cataclysmic showdown on their own turf.For Oscar Beneventi, awakening from a lifetime ensnared in a nightmarish spell means facing the extremes of his father's diabolical ambitions. Conscious that Vedran will bring darkness to the world if he succeeds in finding the Book of Shadows and the soul it contains, Oscar resolves to thwart his father's machinations and aid Mae and Nikolai in their quest to defeat him.With the Soul Reaper Queen missing, Mae persuades her most powerful allies to accompany her on a daring expedition to Hell, seeking to repair Hellreaver and unlock their true potential. Their descent into the underworld is fraught with danger and reveals long-hidden truths, forever altering Mae's perception of her world.As alliances are forged and battle lines drawn both on Earth and in the depths of Hell, Mae and her companions brace themselves for an apocalyptic clash against the Sorcerer King's unholy forces. With time running out, can they execute their audacious plan and prevent the dawn of a new era of darkness?